Sugar Cane & Sugar Beets

Background

The world of money-in-politics can be sour, but sometimes, its sweet.

Sugar is the only industry in the entire agribusiness sector that has consistently supported Democrats during the past two decades. Sugar cane is grown in southern states such as Florida, while sugar beets are primarily grown in the upper Midwest and Great Plains and converted into a number of sugar products.

Individuals and political action committees associated with the sugar industry have contributed more than $41.7 million since 1990, with about 58 percent going to Democrats. Over the years, the amount the industry contributes has increased and the industry's affection for Democrats has waned. During the 2008 campaign cycle, the industry contributed more than $4.2 million, with 65 percent going to Democrats. By the 2012 cycle, the industry accounted for more than $5.3 million in contributions, with the money evenly split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans

On the lobbying front, the sugar industry spent $7.9 million in 2012, which is roughly the amount it has spent since 2008, when the industry's spending jumped up dramatically from just $4.5 million in 2007. The majority of the sugar industry's lobbying expenditures come from three groups -- American Crystal Sugar and two industry trade groups. Much of the increase in the industry's lobbying can be attributed to their spending habits.

The U.S. Beet Sugar Association -- a trade group of sugar beet farmers and producers - has spent between $1.8 million and $2 million a year on lobbying for for the last several years. The group's expenditures jumped from $560,000 in 2007 to $2 million in 2008.

American Crystal Sugar -- the largest sugar beet producer in the nation - made a similar dramatic jump in spending on lobbying. The company has spent more than $1 million on lobbying every year since 2008 but the company did not lobby at all in 2007, and prior to that had only lobbied once, spending a mere $60,000 in 2005.

The third major group, the American Sugar Alliance has been a force in Washington for some time, spending more than $1 million a year on lobbying every year since 2003. In 2012 it spent more than $1.7 million on lobbying.

The sugar industry is closely entwined with federal agricultural and trade policy, and the industry closely monitors and seeks to influence Washington on the Farm Bill and various trade agreements, like the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Trans-Pacific PArtnership.

Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics.

Count Cash & Make Change.

OpenSecrets.org is your nonpartisan guide to money's influence on U.S. elections and
public policy. Whether you're a voter, journalist, activist, student or interested citizen,
use our free site to shine light on your government.